Granville Township has an Open Space Acquisition program supported by two property tax levies approved by the voters. Based upon recommendations of a committee made up of a cross-section of Village and Township residents the Trustees are continuing to either acquire the title or purchase the development rights on properties to prevent them from being developed in the future. These acquisitions are designed to maintain open vistas and at the same time limit development.

In order to make a purchase the Trustees must find willing property owners. Purchase prices offered are based upon independent appraisal of the land or the development rights to be purchased. Sometimes property owners do not wish to transfer any of their rights regardless of the dollars offered.

Kennedy-Rader Property

Recent purchases have included development rights on the 52.1 acre Robb/Smith property ($294,500) on Loudon St, 72.6 acres of the Goss Orchard property ($585,000) on Silver Street and the purchase of the 35.3 acre Gordon property ($460,000) along Lancaster Road.

The Robb/Smith and Goss properties continue as agricultural use property, insuring the payment of local property taxes. The Gordon property supplements previous purchases in the Spring Valley area bringing together 142 acres of contiguous parcels acquired, in four different transactions, since 1991.

The 45 acre former Spring Valley Pool [the anchor piece of these properties] was acquired in 2007 thanks to $250,000 of Open Space funds and partnering with the Licking Land Trust to obtain grant funding from the Ohio Public Works Commission, Denison University, Amy Chamberlain and Park National Bank.

The Trustees continue to work on this program for the benefit of future generations.